Riverside footpath to temporary close for wastewater works

Friday, 27 June 2025 11:10

The footpath will be closed from the suspension bridge

The footpath along the river Wharfe in Ilkley will be closed between the suspension bridge and the stepping stones between 30 June and 25 July, as part of Yorkshire Water’s ongoing improvement project at Ilkley wastewater treatment works.

The closure will be in place to allow contract partners Ward & Burke to finalise the installation of a new storm water storage tank and outfall, as part of the utility’s £60m investment to improve the health of the river Wharfe.

The storm water storage tank will help to more than double the capacity of the treatment works, reducing the number and volume of storm overflow discharges to the river Wharfe following periods of prolonged or heavy rainfall. Stored stormwater will be returned to the treatment works for full treatment once the rainfall event has passed and incoming flows have reduced.

Andrew McKinley, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said:

"The project is progressing well and the installation of the storm tank is almost complete. We’d like to thank Ilkley residents for their patience and understanding while the footpath is closed to keep everyone safe as we bring this part of the project to a close.”

The old outfall will be removed when the new storm tank is brought into use.

Andrew added:

“We’re also making headway with the 4,000m2 aerated rush bed, which will also help to increase the treatment capacity of the site, and ultimately improve the water quality at the designated bathing water area.”

The aerated rush bed will act as a natural solution for the secondary treatment of sewage flows during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall, or when stored storm water is returned to the usual treatment process. The specially grown rushes are a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of removing pollutants.

The overall project, which is expected to be completed in spring 2026, also includes:

increased storage at storm overflows within 5km upstream of the bathing water area to reduce discharges to less than ten per year on average
plans for a 19,000m2 integrated wetland across the river from the treatment works to provide further treatment to the final effluent and a biodiversity net gain for the area, subject to planning permission.